Corrosion of Copper in a Public Water Supply

This work has involved an initial investigation into the extent and causes of copper corrosion in Glasgow tapwater

Correlation Between Network KPIs and User Experience of GSM Networks in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Cellular communication industry is now shaping up and companies are now focusing on user experience to retain customers and monetize on products and services offered. Changes in cellular communication landscape and tough competition due to price war and heavy taxation, profit margin is decreasing and hence reducing tariffs for products and services. Operators are now opting for solid network performance and developing new models while keeping quality of services intact. User Experience and Network Key Performance Indications (KPIs) reflects the gap which needs to be filled by offering smart solutions and adapting to customer centric approach. This study attempted to analyze the impact on user experience due to network KPIs considering the variables (1) Understanding of Network and Performance (2) Understanding User Experience (3) Lack of use of reporting tools and best practices (4) Coordination between different teams (5) Customer experience feedback. In this research work, a comprehensive model is developed using which User experience can be enhanced with existing and new tools together. Keywords: Telecommunications, KPIs, Network performance, User experienc

Teaching Parallel Programming Using Java

This paper presents an overview of the "Applied Parallel Computing" course taught to final year Software Engineering undergraduate students in Spring 2014 at NUST, Pakistan. The main objective of the course was to introduce practical parallel programming tools and techniques for shared and distributed memory concurrent systems. A unique aspect of the course was that Java was used as the principle programming language. The course was divided into three sections. The first section covered parallel programming techniques for shared memory systems that include multicore and Symmetric Multi-Processor (SMP) systems. In this section, Java threads was taught as a viable programming API for such systems. The second section was dedicated to parallel programming tools meant for distributed memory systems including clusters and network of computers. We used MPJ Express-a Java MPI library-for conducting programming assignments and lab work for this section. The third and the final section covered advanced topics including the MapReduce programming model using Hadoop and the General Purpose Computing on Graphics Processing Units (GPGPU).Comment: 8 Pages, 6 figures, MPJ Express, MPI Java, Teaching Parallel Programmin

Interrelationships between capital structure and financial performance, firm size and growth: comparison of industrial sector in KSE

The purpose of the Study is to explore relationship between the capital structure and financial performance, evidence from 21 industries in Karachi stock exchange in Pakistan. The study has been analyzed capital structure and its impact on financial performance during year 2004 to 2008. (5 years) financial years of 21 industries in KSE. The study will empirically investigate the relationship between the capital structure and financial performance, by using correlation and regression test on financial data which is collected from analysis reports of KSE, Balance sheet analysis and financial statements of 21 sectors. The results have several Significant implications. The findings of the study show a positive relationship between the  Leverage, financial performance and Growth, Size, of the companies by accepting the alternate hypothesis H 1 and Ho is rejected. Key Words: leverage, Financial Performance Size, Growt

Competitiveness and Policy Analysis of Potato Production in Different Agro-ecological Zones of Northern Areas: Implications for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation

Potato (L. Solanum tuberosum) belongs to Solanaceae family. It is the most important dicotyledonous tuber crop and possesses major socio-economic importance worldwide. It is the fourth most cultivated food crop after wheat, rice and maize in world. Potato is a good and cheaper source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and proteins and also provides most of the trace elements, which can meet the energy requirement of the people living in the developing countries like Pakistan [Rahman (1986)]. About 325 million metric ton of potato is produced annually throughout the world [World Book (2001)]. This crop is financially more remunerative than cereals from food security and can be recommended as a partial replacement of cereals

Teaching-learning materials: challenges of using them

Teachers use various teaching-learning materials (TLMs) during teaching. For example they use the globe while explaining the earth; potatoes, knives and protractors are used while drawing latitude and longitude lines, teaching of counting is done with the help of pebbles, mobile phones are used to show a video of Tundra region etc. Here globes, potatoes, knives, protractor, mobile phones and pebbles are being used to clarify the topic. These materials are helpful in the process of teaching and learning. For example, when the children are told about the earth being round and a globe is shown to them in order to bring clarity to this concept, then the globe is helping the teacher in explaining that concept and the child is helped in understanding the same. So the materials used during classroom transactions in order to facilitate teaching-learning process are called teaching-learning materials or TLMs. It depends on the teacher and the topic. It also depends on the teacher whether s/he uses teaching-learning material in the class or not. If the teacher does not use teaching-learning material in the classroom at all then obviously s/he does not face any challenge

Investigation on factors causing construction delay and their effects on the development of Oman’s construction industry

Construction delay in projects is a common manifestation in the construction industry. Delay in construction will lead to a bad relationship between the parties involved and will also lead to an increase in the allocated completion time. Delay in the ongoing project might result in the loss of the money, time and other facilities by the client and cause a lot of financial damage to the contractor due to its investment in the purchase of equipment, construction materials and the hire of skilled workers. Delay in construction is a common problem that occurs mostly due to the unforeseen problems during the design & construction stages which often lead to delays in the completion of the project. Oman’s construction industry is one of the most important industries for the country’s economic development and growth. In this study, analysis of some available literature was conducted, and a questionnaire survey was floated among contractors, consultants, clients, project managers, and engineers involved in construction projects. All the collected responses were evaluated by using SPSS. The results of the study identified a total of 60 causes of delay out of which three factors have a “High” significance level for construction delays. These factors of “High” significance were associated with “Client related issues only” in which the initial design was altered by the client, delaying in deciding by the client and, scope change by the client. Majority of the delay (84 %) was observed to be lying in the range of 1‑2 years. This study also recognized the effect and minimization of regular delay and delay resulted due to Covid-19. Minimizing construction delay criteria can be managed by having a proper control system in the project time and fund